We often complain about the difficulties for Ticino companies to operate in and towards Italy, is this market so difficult?
“Based on my experience in the services sector, and more specifically in the field of international shipping, I can say that I am satisfied with the excellent collaboration with Italian partners. Thanks to this, approximately 75% of our traffic is generated by the relationship with Italian companies. This positive situation can only confirm that, with the necessary precautions, we can operate with neighboring Italy”.

In your experience, what have been the greatest difficulties?
“We have never had any real difficulties as there are no particular restrictions in the international transport sector. The only negative note is related to the administrative part, as the bureaucracy is complex and for our companies it can turn out to be a waste of energy or in some cases even an obstacle. The latter is probably dictated by the fact that we are accustomed to our Ticino and Swiss administrations, which provide an excellent service”.

Do you think that Northern Italy represents an opportunity for Ticino companies?
“It will certainly always be an opportunity for our companies that operate directly with the Northern Italian market and by extension other areas that sometimes do not feel involved also benefit from it. Bordering a large hub like Lombardy is already a positive fact in itself, because it is certainly able to influence the Ticino market”.

Which sectors do you think are best to focus on (construction, services, qualified crafts, insurance consultancy, banking, etc.)?
“I believe that in the field of services there is room for growth and development thanks also to the sudden changes, which create the conditions to always be able to offer new ones. The real value is and will be creativity linked to the ability to adapt, a quality that I think is a bit part of our DNA".

In the traffic/transport of goods to and from Italy, have you encountered any particular problems? If so, which ones?
“The traffic of goods has slowed down recently due to the countless declarations required by Italian customs authorities (wording for free export, health clearances, etc.). The difficulty is perceived in both directions equally both from and to Italy, by our companies because when they send goods to the rest of the European Community they encounter fewer restrictions and for Italian companies, now accustomed to shipping within the ever-growing EU, without any particular documentation, they have the feeling that it is our country that creates the aforementioned problems”.

What could be done to streamline transnational freight transport?
“What could be «done» is a conditional form that I don't like because it raises ifs, maybe maybe etc. This means that even before to establish a project there are a whole series of circumstances that must coincide therefore an idea mostly already finished at birth. You have to "do", a simple word but which involves the commitment of the people involved to reach an objective and this is also my advice: do, using the tools already in our possession without being negative towards road transport, which are the basis for the success of other types of transport (rail-air), as a whole they contribute to our economy".